The sun had just risen, casting a warm, golden glow on the Shiro's inner walls. As the gates to the family wing swung open, two figures walked in. The male led the way with a determined look on his face and his hands tightly clenched into fists. His long strides made the black cloak covering his military uniform ripple behind him in the morning breeze. Masaru turned his head slightly to the right and caught a glimpse of the female demon following closely behind. She had a mischievous twinkle in her eye and flashed him an innocent fanged smile. Masaru suppressed a groan and turned his attention back to the path ahead. Using two fingers, he rubbed a spot on his forehead where the beginnings of a headache were forming.
Lady Kagome had been sullen and withdrawn for weeks. Her son had returned to school, and Rin was busy preparing for her court exams, leaving the priestess with a lot of free time on her hands. Being confined to one wing of the grand palace was proving to be suffocating for her. She had taken to sneaking out at night to the edge of the woods, where she could be alone with her thoughts and breathe in the fresh air. Masaru had become aware of her nightly escapades and had been hesitant to confront her.
The young demon took his concerns to Myoga. The elderly flea demon had been charged with ensuring the Shiro was still standing when Lord Sesshoumaru returned, with that in mind Masaru had sought out his help on how to cheer up Lady Kagome. He could only imagine the kind of damage his Lord would do if he were to find his Alpha Bitch in such a state.
It was agreed upon by two demons that Lady Kagome needed a new female companion. One without prejudice against humans, will not fear the priestess's holy powers and is trusted by Lord Sesshoumaru and General Katsu. Unfortunately for Masaru, only one female fulfilled every requirement. That was how the lieutenant found himself escorting his mother, Makaira, to Kagome's quarters.
Makaira came from a small pack of dog demons who were entrusted with maintaining the Shiro grounds. The pack also took care of the royal gardens and they meticulously harvested medicinal herbs for the infirmary. Despite her lack of a prestigious background, Makaira caught the attention of her mate, General Katsu, during their youth. The general was captivated by her beauty, intelligence, and dedication to her work.
She had a unique appearance compared to the other demoness within the Shiro. Her dark auburn hair that was always in a mess of curls, emerald eyes that sparkled with mischief, and a shorter-than-average build compared to high-born dog demons who were tall and slender. She was a fierce mother who loved her pup, a loyal mate and friend, but her fiery attitude tended to cause trouble. It was that torrid behavior that always had Masaru on edge around her. Yet, it was all of these qualities that made her the perfect companion for Kagome.
The lieutenant followed the scent of lilies and morning dew to the gardens outside of the priestess's room. It was not difficult to spot the petite human sitting beside the koi pond, wearing a white and pink kimono. Her black ink hair shone in the morning light, falling in waves around her. Masaru knew the moment she became aware of their presence in the garden as she sat up straighter and before turning around to meet his gaze.
As Masaru approached, he noticed a hint of weariness in her dark blue eyes. It was as if a perpetual cloud had settled over her, preventing any light from reaching her and leaving Kagome lost in a haze of darkness. This had become a familiar sight, and Masaru longed for the woman he met five years ago.
Taking a calming breath to prepare himself, Masaru then took a step forward to begin introductions when a clawed hand gently touched his arm. He halted and turned around to ask his mother why she had stopped him, but she spoke before he could form the words.
"I'll take it from here, Masa," Makaira said, gently urging her son to give her and the human woman some privacy. Masaru admired how quickly and willingly his mother took charge and was keen to help Lady Kagome. He began to lean forward to embrace her and express his gratitude but paused when she continued. "Now, be a good pup and go prepare some tea for us!" she said with a cheery smile while giving him a pat on the shoulder as she walked away, leaving a bewildered Masaru in her wake.
Kagome stood to greet the newcomer, but still kept her guard up. Seeing that Masaru had been the one to bring this demoness into family gardens it was a sign she meant no harm. After taking a deep breath Kagome put on a smile and bowed.
"Oh, that's not necessary!" Rushing the rest of the way over to the pond the demoness gave a quick bow of her own and then grabbed onto the priestess's hands. "My name is Makaira. Is it alright if I join you? My son will be back momentarily with some tea for us."
It was an unexpected surprise to learn that this friendly demoness was Masaru's mother. Nevertheless, Kagome greeted Makaira with a warm smile, her guard softening slightly at the realization that Masaru had brought his own kin to meet her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Makaira," Kagome said, her voice gentle as she gave the demoness hands still holding her a squeeze, "Of course, you're welcome to join me."
Makaira's grin widened, and she settled herself beside Kagome, gracefully folding her green kimono under her legs. The two of them exchanging polite pleasantries as they awaited Masaru's return with the tea.
True to his word, Masaru soon appeared steaming teapot and two cups, his expression a mix of relief and mild embarrassment as he approached the two females. Setting down the tray, he offered a respectful bow to Kagome before turning to his mother.
"Here's the tea you requested, Mother," Masaru said, his tone respectful but tinged with a hint of exasperation.
Makaira chuckled, giving her son a playful nudge with her elbow. "Thank you, Masaru. You're such a dutiful pup."
Masaru shifted uncomfortably under his mother's teasing gaze, shooting her a pleading look that silently begged her to stop embarrassing him in front of Kagome.
Kagome couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange between mother and son, finding their dynamic endearing. "You have a wonderful son, Makaira," she said warmly, shooting Masaru a reassuring smile. "He has been incredibly patient with me over the last few years and has become a part of our family."
Makaira beamed at Kagome's words with a glint of mischief dancing in her emerald eyes. "Oh, he's a good pup, alright. Though sometimes he can get distracted by comely females," she said, winking at Masaru who shifted uncomfortably once again.
The tension that had hung in the air seemed to dissipate when Kagome burst out in laughter with Makaria quickly joining in. It had been a while since Kagome had felt such genuine joy. With Makaira's presence, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, allowing her to breathe freely again and release all the pent-up anxiety that had plagued her since her arrival at the Shiro.
As the flustered lieutenant excused himself, the two females fell into a comfortable rhythm. Between cups of tea and the light lunch brought out to them, Kagome began to slowly open up more. She hadn't realized how much she missed being around other adults and having girl talk. Sure, Rin was around, but it wasn't the same. Kagome couldn't always be the best friend for her; she had to prioritize being a mother first and foremost to the teen.
Makaira eyed Kagome, who seemed lost in thought while sipping her tea. It was in the demoness's nature to cause a bit of trouble and catch others off guard. She found it was the easiest way to elicit honest reactions. Hiding a smirk behind her own cup, she said, "So, my mate told me about how you bested him in a fight. You even triggered his beast to come forth and attempt to claim you."
The unforeseen turn in conversation caused Kagome to gasp and choke on her tea, the liquid entering her windpipe. After coughing for a few moments while Makaira patted her back, Kagome covered her bright red face and looked at the demoness with a horrified expression. "I-I didn't mean for that to happen! Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"
Seeing the priestess begin to hyperventilate, Makaira scooted closer and grabbed hold of Kagome's hands, framing her flushed face. "I only meant to tease you, Priestess! Take a breath and relax." Kagome did as she was told, and the blush on her cheeks began to fade. "That's it, there you go. I'm sorry for startling you like that, but I was curious to see how you felt about the situation my mate put you in."
Finally able to breathe normally again, Kagome couldn't stop the irritation from showing on her face as she moved her hands. "Next time, give me some kind of warning! You and Katsu are going to give me a heart attack one day!"
A giggle escaped Makaira as she gave Kagome's cheeks a pinch before letting go. "I apologize. You are just so expressive it's hard not to tease you. Do not worry about Katsu; he tells me everything, even the part where you chastised him for making a move on another female while already mated." At the mention of mates, the curious demoness had a question she had been dying to ask. "So, do you and Lord Sesshoumaru have plans to become mates when he returns?"
Another sip and another round of coughing had the priestess ready to purify the demoness. "Stop doing that!"
They soon relocated to the veranda outside of Kagome's room, Makaira watched the priestess bite her lip and fidget under her curious gaze. "I think you may need something stronger than tea for this conversation," she remarked, noticing Kagome's nervous demeanor. She summoned her son once more and had him bring them sake.
Kagome nodded eagerly, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Yes, she definitely needed booze and lots of it. The nostalgia of girl talk was gone and replaced with a sense of dread.
As they settled in and drank their spirits, Makaira leaned in, her emerald eyes sparkling. "So, Kagome, tell me about your relationship with Sesshoumaru. When was the first time he gave you a gift?"
Kagome's heart skipped a beat at the question, her mind racing as she wondered how Makaira even knew the demon lord had presented her with gifts. She hadn't even fully comprehended what their relationship was, let alone how to explain it to someone else.
After a moment of hesitation, Kagome replied, "It was about seven years ago when he gave me a jade comb."
Makaira excitedly nodded, her interest spurred. "And what happened before he presented you with that comb?"
Taking a deep breath, Kagome recounted the events leading up to that moment. She told Makaira about the herd of demon boars that attacked her home, how she had fought them off to protect Rin, how Sesshoumaru had appeared afterwards seeing her covered in sweat and blood, looking anything but appealing.
Makaira listened intently as Kagome spoke. "Ah, I see," she mused. "His beast must have been drawn to you in that moment, seeing you protect his young and slaughter your enemies. It's no wonder he was captivated by you." She couldn't help but smile at the look of disbelief on the priestess's face.
"I don't understand. He's known me for years and the moment he sees me bathed in pig blood he gives me a gift?" Things just weren't adding up for Kagome. For a while now people have been telling her that Sesshoumaru saw her as a potential partner, but she just couldn't understand why.
Seeing that she had her work cut out for her thanks to a bunch of males trying to explain dog demon behavior, Makaira poured them both more sake and dove right in.
The demoness leaned forward, her emerald eyes meeting questioning blue ones. "Kagome, let me tell you about Sesshoumaru," she began, her voice soft yet firm. "He is not just an alpha dog demon; he holds the title of Alpha over all in the Western territory. In the past, he may have only seen you as nothing more than another human female. But when you unintentionally displayed your ability to become an alpha female, you piqued his interest."
Kagome furrowed her brows, recalling the day Sesshoumaru called her an Alpha Bitch while in a fit of rage. At the time she didn't know why he was saying such things, or perhaps deep down she just didn't want to know.
A gentle smile playing on Makaira lips. "Yes, when you stood your ground, protected Rin, and fought off those demon boars, you showed him your strength, your courage, your maternal instincts. That's when he started to see you differently."
Kagome's clutched the cup in her hands tightly and her eyes widened in realization. "So that's why he started giving me gifts." Her voice barely above a whisper as the impact of those words sunk in.
Makaira nodded again. "Exactly. Those gifts were his way of showing his appreciation, of indicating his ability to provide for you and your young." She sat back and watched the priestess process this information.
Kagome's mind raced with newfound understanding. "But why gifts? Why not just... talk to me?"
Makaira chuckled softly. "Ah, you see, Sesshoumaru, like all alpha males, is driven by instinct and has his own way of courting a potential mate. For him, presenting gifts is a sign of his affection, his admiration. It's his way of showing that he's serious about you." Waving a hand in the air she added, "And it's not like Sesshoumaru was much of a talker to begin with. It was always kill first ask questions later with him."
As Kagome stared into her cup, the pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place. "So, all this time, he's been... assessing me?"
Makaira nodded in confirmation. "He's been showing his interest in his own canine way. When Katsu and I began courting he would show up at my home with a fresh kill every morning. My family ate very well that year." A wistful expression appeared on her face while thinking back to those days.
Kagome took a moment to let it all sink in, feeling a mix of trepidation and gratitude for Makaira's insight. "Thank you, Makaira. I..." She paused to down the last of the sake in her cup and accepting another refill she before saying, "I like Sesshoumaru, but I'm still afraid that when he returns he will lose interest in me. There is still so much I don't know about him."
Makaira smiled warmly, reaching out to squeeze Kagome's hand. " Just remember, you have every right to take your time and figure things out. And if you ever need someone to talk to or a shoulder to lean on, I'm here for you." Her reassuring smile was soon replaced with a wicked grin. "Katsu and I were newly mated when Sesshoumaru was born. I am more than happy to share everything I know about that pretentious pup."
"Mother!" Masaru yelled from behind them. He had come to see if they were ready for dinner when he caught his mother speaking ill of their lord. God only knows what else she had been telling Lady Kagome.
Makaira grinned mischievously as Masaru approached. "Oh, come on, Masaru! Join us for a drink," she insisted, patting the cushion beside her.
Kagome watched the exchange with amusement, a smile playing on her lips. "Oh, don't be so serious, Masaru," she chimed in, also gesturing for him to join them. "I'm sure your mother's stories will be quite entertaining." It was clear the alcohol was now working its magic on her as well.
Reluctantly, Masaru took a seat beside them, shooting a wary glance at his mother. "I hope you're not filling Lady Kagome's head with nonsense, Mother. Lord Sesshoumaru would not be pleased," he remarked, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
Makaira laughed, pouring another round of sake for everyone. "Of course not, my dear. Just sharing a few anecdotes about our esteemed lord. His future mate wishes to learn more about him." she replied with a wink as Kagome once again found herself nearly choking on her sake.